Choke storage device for shotguns

ABSTRACT

A choke holder device is provided for attachment to the end of a magazine on a shotgun. The cap which normally closes the end of the shotgun shell magazine is removed, and a first hollow choke storage member is threaded onto or otherwise secured to the magazine to close the magazine. The choke storage member then extends outwardly from the magazine. Additional hollow cylindrical choke storage members are provided for releasable attachement to one another and to the end of the first choke storage member. Each storge member is selected to have a length sufficient to store a removable shotgun choke therein. The number of storage members attached to the magazine and to one another in an end-to-end relationship is selected to correspond with the number of different chokes to be stored. The final storage member is closed on the end with a removable closure cap.

BACKGROUND

Modern shotguns frequently have the end of the barrel threaded toaccommodate different screw-in chokes. Typically, the chokes areexternally threaded at one end to permit them to be threaded into theinternally threaded end of the muzzle of the shotgun. The various chokesoperate to vary or control the pattern of the shot discharged from themuzzle of the shotgun.

Frequently, shotgun owners substitute different chokes on the muzzle ofthe shotgun to vary the shot pattern in accordance with the resultdesired and for different shooting conditions. As a consequence, unusedchokes must be stored somewhere. Usually, they simply are placed in apocket of a hunting jacket when they are not in use. If several chokesare so stored, they bang together in the pocket and are subject todamage, particularly to the relatively fine threads which are formed onthe exterior surface for engagement with the internally threaded muzzleof the shotgun.

Shotguns also may be provided with plugs of varying lengths to limit thenumber of shells which can be carried in the magazine of the gun at anyone time. For example, the laws of some states prohibit the insertion ofmore than two shells into the magazine of a shotgun, and such a plugfills the space which would otherwise be occupied by shells.

The Patent to Holmes #4,602,449 discloses a plug for a shotgun magazinewhich, in turn, is hollow and threaded for receiving the externallythreaded portion of a conventional screw-in type of choke. This plugthen serves a dual purpose of storing an unused choke while, at the sametime, performing its function of filling space in the magazine. It isnecessary, however, for the plug/choke holder combination of the deviceof Holmes to work, that the internal diameter of the magazine of theshotgun is capable of accommodating the plug and its internally carriedchoke. The entire device fits inside the magazine in the positionnormally occupied by either shells or a magazine plug.

In contrast to the plug device of the Holmes Patent, the Patent toKramer #1,089,000 discloses an extension which is threaded onto the endof the shell magazine to permit an expansion of the shell capacity. Theextension is in the form of an elongated tube threadedly engaged withthe end of the magazine and forming a continuous cylindrical passagewith the interior of the magazine.

The Patent to Martin et al. #3,619,925 discloses an adapter for the endof the shell magazine of a shotgun to permit one or more housings to bescrewed onto the end of the magazine. Each of the housings is filledwith weights to permit changes in the balance of the shotgun fortailoring the "feel" of the shotgun to an individual sportsman.

It is desirable to provide a simple, improved carrier mounted on ashotgun for holding additional chokes when the chokes are not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an improvement forshotguns.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improvedchoke holder device for shotguns.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved chokeholder device for attachment to the end of the cartridge magazine of ashotgun.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a choke holderdevice for a shotgun having a magazine in the form of a plurality ofchoke holding modules which are interconnected with one another and withthe magazine opening for storing a desired number of shotgun chokes whenthe chokes are not in use.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, a chokeholder device for a shotgun comprises at least first and second storagemembers. The first storage member is substantially closed at one end,and this end is secured to the end of the shotgun magazine. Both of thechoke storage members have a hollow cylindrical interior and the secondmember is removably attached to the first member to form an elongated,hollow cylindrical storage container. Each of the members is selected tohave a length capable of accommodating a shotgun choke. The end of thesecond member is selectively closed with a releasable cap, and sparechokes are stored in the members until use of such chokes is desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now should be made to the drawings in which the same referencenumbers are used in all four figures to designate the same components.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a shotgun comprising a barrel 10 and ashell magazine, terminating in a threaded opening 13 which isselectively closed by a cap 15 to permit the insertion of shotgunshells, springs, and plugs into the magazine 12.

As illustrated in the various figures of the drawing, the cap 15 may beremoved and replaced with a first cylindrical choke storage member 20,the left end of which is flared outwardly in a knurled portion 21. Thisend is internally threaded to engage the threads on the end 13 of themagazine. The manner in which the choke storage member 20 is secured tothe end 13 as shown most clearly in FIG. 3. The left-hand end of thechoke storage member 20 has a shoulder 23 around it with a relativelysmall diameter hole through it. A cushion disk 24, made of suitablematerial such as cork, is placed in the left-hand end of the member 20to close the opening, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4. Theshoulder 23 also extends sufficiently into the opening in the end of theportion 13 of the magazine, so that shotgun shells, plugs and the likewhich are placed in the magazine 13 are held in place by the shoulder 23in the same manner as they normally are held in place by the cap 15.

The right-hand end of the hollow choke storage member 20 is open and isexternally threaded at 22. The length of the internal cavity of themember 20 is selected to be sufficient to accommodate a standard shotgunchoke 37 (FIG. 1). If only a single choke is to be stored, a cap 30 thenmay be threaded over the threads 22 to close the storage member 20.

Frequently, however, more than one choke is to be stored, such as thesecond choke 38 shown in FIG. 1. To accommodate the storage of such anadditional choke, a second hollow cylindrical choke storage extender 25is provided. The extender 25 has internal threads on its left-hand endfor engaging the threads 22 of the member 20. This end of the extender25 also is knurled on the outside (at 26) over the threads to facilitateits placement on and removal from the right-hand end of the storagemember 20. The right-hand end of the extender 25 is externally threadedat 27, in the same manner as the threads 22 on the storage member 20.Consequently, the cap 30 may be removably secured by threadedly engagingthe threads 27 on the end of the extender 25, when the extender 25 isthreaded in place over the right-hand end of the storage member 20, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

If additional extenders 25 are desired, they may be interconnected withone another in the same manner that the extender 25, shown in thevarious figures of the drawing, is threadedly attached to the right-handend of the choke storage member 20. The number of extenders 25 which areused depends upon the number of chokes, such as the chokes 37 and 38,which are to be stored at any given time. Obviously, a practical limitto the number of extenders 25 which may be utilized essentially isdetermined by the length of the barrel 10.

The cap 30 is shown as having a swivel 33 on it to permit the cap 30 tobe attached by means of a cord or the like to the shotgun or magazine,so that the cap does not become lost when it is removed. The inside ofthe cap 30 is lined with a resilient cushion 34, which may be made ofcork or other suitable material.

The members 25 and the storage member 20 each have an internal lengthsufficient to store or accommodate a choke 37 or 38 placed on them.Thus, the stored chokes abut one another end-to-end, but the smoothinterior cylindrical surfaces of the member 20 and extender 25 preventdamage from occurring to the threads of the chokes. When use of a choke37 or 38 is desired, the cap 30 is removed; and the chokes are pouredout of the cylindrical container which is formed by the members 20 and25. The sportsman then selects the proper choke, and installs it intothe barrel of the shotgun 10 in a conventional manner. By making thestorage member 20, the extender 25, and the cap 30 out of anodizedaluminum, the weight of the composite storage device is minimal.Consequently, it does not adversely affect the balance of the shotguneven when multiple extenders 25 are used. Any suitable material may beused for the parts 20, 25 and 30, however.

If access to the shotgun magazine 12 through the opening 13 is desired,the entire assembly may be removed by grasping the knurled portion 21 ofthe storage member 20 to unthread it from the opening 13 of themagazine. If chokes are stored in the assembled device, they continue tobe held in place between the cap 30 and the shoulder 23 and areprotected from damage. When access to the shotgun magazine no longer isrequired, the device is reassembled onto the opening 13 in the mannerdescribed above and chokes may be removed from and placed into thestorage device formed by removing the cap 30 to provide access to thestorage chamber in the composite device, constituting the member 20 andthe extender 25.

The choke storage device illustrated in the drawing and described aboveis to be considered illustrative of the invention and not as limiting.Various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the true scope of the invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A choke holder device for a shotgun having a magazine forholding shells, said magazine having an end thereof closed by aremovable cap, said choke holder device including in combination:a firsthollow choke storage member having first and second ends for storing atleast one choke therein, said first storage member having releasableattaching means on the first end thereof for attaching said first endthereof to the magazine of said shotgun with the removable cap thereofremoved, said first storage member being substantially closed at thefirst end thereof to close the end of the magazine of said shotgun; andbeing open at the second end thereof to permit the insertion of a choketherein; a second hollow choke storage extender member with open firstand second ends for storing at least one choke therein; interconnectingmeans for releasably interconnecting the first end of said second chokeextender member with the second end of said first choke storage memberto form a continuous passageway through said first and second members;and removable closure means for closing the second end of said secondchoke storage extender member.
 2. The combination according to claim 1wherein said first choke storage member and said second choke storageextender member are hollow cylindrical members.
 3. The combinationaccording to claim 2 wherein said interconnecting means comprises matingmale and female threads on the respective interconnected ends of saidfirst storage member and said second storage extender member.
 4. Thecombination according to claim 3 wherein the second ends of said firstchoke storage member and said second choke storage extender member bothare externally threaded; and wherein the first end of said second chokestorage extender member is internally threaded to matingly engage theexternal threads on the second end of said first choke storage member.5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said interconnectedfirst choke storage member and said second choke storage extender memberprovide a continuous interior cylindrical passageway having a uniforminternal diameter.
 6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein saidremovable closure means comprises a threaded closure having matingthreads engaging corresponding mating threads on the second end of saidsecond storage extender member.
 7. The combination according to claim 6wherein a plurality of open second hollow cylindrical choke storageextender members are provided for releasable interconnection with oneanother and with said first choke storage member.
 8. The combinationaccording to claim 3 wherein said removable closure means comprises athreaded closure having mating threads engaging corresponding matingthreads on the second end of said second storage extender member.
 9. Thecombination according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of open secondhollow cylindrical choke storage extender members are provided forreleasable interconnection with one another and with said first chokestorage member.
 10. The combination according to claim 2 wherein saidinterconnected first choke storage member and said second choke storageextender member provide a continuous interior cylindrical passagewayhaving a uniform internal diameter.